Rotatable switch actuators



July 28, 1964 H. KANE EI'AL 7 ROTATABLE swrrca ACTUATORS Filed Dec. 22,1960 a Sheets-Shoot 2 1 INVENTORS' HUGH KANE By ROBERT A. PUSCH ATTORNEYy 28, 1964 i H. KANE ETAL 3,142,187

ROTATABLE SWITCH ACTUATORS Filed Dec. 22, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 7

6 2 20 199 H2 22 I54 '8 I '1': I O 12 f 9 I4 9 leo 0 II 7 J 0 useINVENTORS HUGH KAN E ROBERT A. PUSOH wamfld ATTORNEY United StatesPatent 3,142,187 ROTATAIELE SWITQH ACTUATQRS Hugh Kane, Normal, andRobert A. Pusch, Le Roy, Ill., assignors to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Filed Dec. 22, 196i), Ser. No. 77,580 2 (Ilalms.ill. 74--Itl7) This invention relates to manually operated electricalselector switches and particularly to a rotatable switch actuatoradapted for small size and compact assembly.

Selector switches are mechanisms for making or breaking electricalcontacts. The operation may be momentarily under actuation, or theactuated condition may be latched. The switch contacts, in turn, controlthe energization of various electrical or electromechanical devices ormotors. Such selector switches have actuator mechanism units that are ofthe push button type. This invention relates to the rotatable form ofactuator unit which will hereinafter be referred to as a turn buttonactuator. These switches also have contact mechanism units, or contactblocks, that are attached to the actuator units to be actuated thereby.

In mounting a plurality of these switches on a panel, presentlyavailable components generally require that they be rather widely spacedin order to insure ample room for connecting electrical connectors tothe contact block. In addition, the operating mechanisms of theavailable components generally require more than five square inches ofpanel area per unit. This invention is concerned with providing a switchactuator that is about half that size or less, for example, this areamay be little more than one (1) inch square. Moreover, the constructionis intended to permit close spacing between switch units of the order ofa quarter of an inch even though each unit is to be accessible foroperation and for assembly or/ and removal from the panel.

This invention is also concerned with providing a plurality of differentactuator units that may be combined in various ways and may be attachedto and actuate differently a common contact block module. The actuatorunits are also arranged to have certain common structua] featuresadapting them to be interchangeable in use with the contact block.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved switch actuator construction.

Another object is to provide a new and improved rotatable switchactuator that is small in size and effective and reliable in operation.

Another object is to provide new and improved rotatable switch actuatorconstructions that are adapted to be used interchangeably with a contactblock unit.

Another object is to provide a new and improved rotatable switchactuator having a spring return operation.

In carrying out this invention in one preferred embodiment, a rotatableswitch actuator includes a hollow base, a switch actuating shaftmechanism rotatably mounted in said base, and a turn button handle forrotating the actuating mechanism. The handle is removably coupled to theactuating shaft by means of an axial socket and stub shaft coupling atone end of the shaft. The switch actuation is by means of a cam at theother end of the actuating shaft. In this preferred embodiment, the turnbutton handle is rotatably mounted on a clamping ring which is removablyfastened to the base.

In mounting the actuating shaft within the hollow base, bearingstherefor are provided at each end, and a means for controlling therotary position of the shaft is mounted between the bearings.

In one form of the invention, the actuating shaft is maintained inrotary position by means of a ball and detent mechanism. In a secondform of the invention,

Fatented July 28, 1964 the actuating shaft is rotated from a normalposition against the action of a coil spring that is wrapped around theshaft and that is effective to restore the shaft upon its release.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the features thereofas well as the invention itself may be more fully understood from thefollowing description when read together with the accompanying drawingin which:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged elevational view partly in section of a switchconstruction embodying this invention,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged exploded view in perspective of theactuatormechanism of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the cam used in the actuatormechanism of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged elevational view in section at right angles tothe sectional view of FIGURE 1, and incorporating a modification of thehandle construction,

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged elevational View partly in section of anotherswitch actuator embodying this in vention,

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 83 of FIGURE 7, and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 FIGURE 7.

In the drawing corresponding parts are referred by the same numerals.

The switch of FIGURE 1 includes an actuator unit Ill and a contact unit,or contact block 12. The actuator unit includes a base I4 of generallycylindrical form. A cylindrical passage 16 extends through the base andis interrupted by two axially spaced annular flanges It and 26 thatproject inwardly at the upper (or outer) end of the base. A packinggland 22 is mounted in the annular space between the flanges I8 and 2d.

The base I4 is mounted on an instrument panel 24 by means of a knurledclamping ring 26 which is internally threaded and fastened to thethreaded upper end of the base. The panel is clamped between the ring 26and an externally projecting flange 2% on the base; washers (it), asealing ring 32, and a positioning plate 34 are used in a well-knownmanner between the ring 26 and flange 2% to ensure proper clamping andsealing of the base on the mounting panel 24. The positioning plate 34includes a bent-down lug that fits in a notch in the panel 24 and atongue that fits in a groove along the base, all in a well-known mannerin order to index the positioning of the base on the panel.

A switch actuating mechanism is rotatably mounted in the base 14, and itincludes a shaft 36. The shaft has a cylindrical upper portion 38 thatrotates within the base flanges l8 and 2i). A flange 4%, extendingoutwardly from the shaft bears against the underside of the base flange20. Surrounding a reduced intermediate portion 4-2 of the shaft 36 aretwo rings 46 and 48 having flanged inner portions 59 bearing against theshaft portion 42 and held there by a collar 44 that overlaps the flangesfit) of both rings 46 and 48.

A coiled extension spring 52 is wrapped part way around the collar 44and secured to hooks 54, 56 projecting from the rings 45, 48. The rings46 and it; also have fingers 58 and 6t projecting from them in the sameldirection as the hooks 54 and 56. The hooks S4, 56 are bent down fromthe rings at a radial position similar to that of the shaft flange 4d;the fingers 58, 60 extend radially slightly further beyond the radialposition of the hooks. The portion 62 of the ring 46 between the hook 54and finger 58 is cut away to form a shoulder 63, at the elements. Ring48 has a similar cut away annals? portion 64 forming shoulder 65. Awasher 66 whose diameter is substantially equal to the diameter of thebase passage 16 is mounted by the base to rotatably receive the shaftportion 42.

The lower end of the shaft portion 42 is squared to fit in a similarlyshaped recess 68 of a cam disk 7t: so that the latter can be fastenedand held for rotation with the shaft 36. The earn disk it? has a tongue72 that projects through a concentric circular groove 74 in the washerdo and engages in the cut away portion 64 of the ring 43 and normallyagainst the shoulder 65 of the ring 4%. The cam disk 70 has a downwardlyfacing cam surface with three dwell portions (FTGURE a low portion 74, ahigh portion 76, and an intermediate portion 7%. A second such camsurface is provided with the same dwell portions 74, 76', 78'; however,if desired, dilferent cam shapes may be used for the two cam surfaces.Projecting down from the flange 49 is a tongue 3i) that engages againstthe shoulder 63 of ring do.

in assembling the actuator mechanism wi hin the base, the shaft as,rings 46, 48, collar 4 3-, spring 52 and washer on are placed tnerein asshown. The grooved washer 66 is in its normal position with the tongue72 arranged to be centered in the groove '74. An index tab 82 on thewasher is slidably positioned within a groove extending along the wallof the base 14. An internal rib 8d (FIGURES 2 and 6) along the wall ofthe base 14 projecting down from the flange l8 fits in the space between the two tongues 58 and Gil. The washer as is fastened to the wallof the base by staking or the like to retain the shaft 36 and itsassembled mechanism, between the washer and the base flange 13. The camdisk 7 ii is fastened to the shaft as by the screw Attached to the base14 are the two casing halves 93 of the contact block 12. These casings83 and 9%? may have the same switch and contact structure or variationsthereof. Only the contents of casing 88 are illustrated in detail.

An operating plunger 92 extends down from an actuator compartment )4(into which the lower part of the base 14 is secured in mating fashion),in which the plunger 92 is actuated by the cam surfaces 74, 76, 73. Theother end of the plunger 92 is biased upwards by a coil spring 96 tomaintain engagement with the cam surfaces. Contact bars 98 and 16%)secured to the plunger 92 make bridging contact with a pair of upperfixed contacts N2 and a pair of lower fixed contacts res, respectively,when the plunger 92 is engaged by the low cam dwell 74, and the highdwell 76. When engaged by the intermediate dwell '78, the contact barsare in a neutral position, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Separateconnector elements 1% are attached to each of the fixed contacts toprovide electrical access thereto via openings at the bottom of thecasing 33.

Manual operation of the actuator is by a knurled handle or turn button110 from which an integrally formed square stub 112 projects. The buttonlit? and stub 112 are rotatably retained within the ring clamp by aC-clamp 114 that fits within a groove between the stub and the ringclamp 26. The stub 112 mates with a square socket lid axially formed inthe face of the shaft portion 33.

The relative positions of the stub 112 within the ring clamp 26 and ofthe socket lit? at the top of the base 14 are such that the stub andsocket engage before the threads of the ring clamp and base do. That is,for example, the stub 112 is substantially even with the edge of thering clamp and the socket is likewise even with the top of the base,while a measure of overlap of ring clamp and base is necessary to engagethe screw threads thereof. This construction facilitates assembly of theunit in that the operator can feel when the stub and socket are meshed,before the threads engage, and the clamp is then movable to engage andtighten the threads.

In operation, the turn button lid is in a neutral position correspondingfor example, to the neutral operating plunger position illustrated inFIGURE 1. In this position, the extension spring 52 is in asubstantially unextended, or slightly extended condition. The fingershoulders s3 and both bear against their respective tongues tit and 72,which function as limit stops for movements opposite to the respectivearrows 12d and 122 (FIGURE 4). The finger shoulders 63 and as also bearagainst the rib 84 from opposite sides.

Manual operation of the turn button lit) in the counter clockwisedirection is transmitted through the stub and socket coupling tosimilarly rotate the shaft 36 as indicated by arrow 124-. The tongue 36on the shaft 36 and engaging shoulder 63 similarly rotates ring 46(arrow 12%) to extend or stretch spring 52 via hook 5 3 (arrow 12.6).The rib on the stationary base wall holds finger 6t) from such rotationnotwithstanding rotation of tongue 72 with the shaft. Thus, the otherend of the spring is held stationary via hook 56, and stationary ringThe tongue 72 acts as a limit stop within the washer groove 74. topermit as much rotation as required to move the cam disk over theoperating plunger 92 (arrow 123) from neutral cam dwell 78 to high dwell76. This action depresses the operating plunger to bridge the lowercontacts 1M- with contact bar Mitt.

Upon release of the turn button lit), the extended spring restores theturn button llltl to its normal, neutral position. This action iseffected by a clockwise pull on the ring 46 which similarly rotatesshaft 36 via the finger 58 and tongue fit).

The operation of the turn button in the clockwise direction from itsneutral position is transmitted via the shaft 36 and cam tongue 72(arrows 136 and 132) to the ring finger oil. This extends or stretchesthe spring 52 via hook 56. The general operation is similar to thatdescribed for the other direction of rotation. Cam tongue '72 acts as alimit stop in groove 74 in this operation also. Indicators (not shown)on the button and clamp ring or mounting panel mark the position of thehandle.

This spring return construction, it is found, provides a compact andreliable structure. Less space is required than for a torsion spring,for example. The extension spring 52 is favored over a compressionspring arrangement of a similar sort, because the former does not tendto expand, as does the latter, when stressed and a higher degree ofcompactness is afforded.

The turn button and clamping ring sub-assembly are effective in reducingthe overall diameter of the actuator unit to about one inch. That is theturn button is as large as the clamping ring 26, and the formers size islimited thereto by the ordinary manual dexterity and strength of anoperator.

A modification of the stub and socket coupling of the turn button andshaft is illustrated in FIGURE 6, in which parts similar to thosepreviously described are referenced by the same numerals and modifiedparts by the same numerals with the addition of a prime The turn button110' and clamping ring 26' are made of plastic, otherwise the latter isunchanged. The stub 112 on the turn button lid is also made of plasticand is cylindrical in shape with a square socket therein. The socket 116in the shaft 36' is also cylindrical and contains an axially formedsquare stub Mt) that mates with the square socket in the turn button.The square stub ll-dtl extends above the surface of the base 14'- inorder to permit meshing With its socket before engaging of the clampingring threads.

By means of this construction, a reliable coupling is provided. Thecylindrical plastic stub 112 is held in compression by the wall of themating socket 116' as the shearing forces of the square stub Mil areapplied to the mating plastic socket. That is, the arrangement ensuresthat forces from metal to plastic are transmitted 011 to 55 metal tohold the plastic stub from flowing or shearing under the turning forces.

Another turn button switch actuator 150 is shown in FEGURES 7 and 9;parts corresponding to those previously described are referenced by thesame numerals.

The turn button 110 is axially coupled by a stub 112 and socket joint toan actuator shaft 152 which has a shouldered portion 154 bearing againstthe base flange 18. The central portion of the shaft 152 contains adiametrical detent passage 156. A single compression spring 158 withinthe passage presses equally on detent balls 16% and 162 at either end.These balls are received within either of two pairs of V-shaped detentrecesses 164-, 166 and 163, 17h, respectively, which are formed in theinner wall of the hollow base 14. A tongue 172 projects radially inwardfrom the wall of the base underneath the flange 18 and into a groove.174 cut into the shoulder 154. The shaft 152 is retained in position bymeans of a washer 176, in which the lower reduced end of the shaft isrotatably mounted. The washer 176 is retained in position after assemblyby staking or the like.

A cam disk 178 having a plurality of cams 180, 182 integrally formed isaxially secured to the shaft 152. Each cam ha stwo dwell positions 184,186, high and low, corresponding respectively to the two operatingplunger positions bridging the lower fixed contacts 104 and the upperfixed contacts Hi2 (FIGURE 1). The pair of detent recesses 168, 1.70 and164, 166 correspond to the engagement of the operating plunger 92 withthe high and low cam dwell positions 134 and 186. The tongue 172 andgroove 174 are dimensioned to provide a limit stop for each of thedetent positions. The cams 18d and 1182 may have three dwell positionscorresponding to that of FEGURE 5, in which case a third neutral detentposition would be provided by a third intermediate pair of opposedrecesses (not shown). The neutral detent positions would correspond to aneutral operating plunger position.

In operation, the turn button 110 is manipulated in opposite directionsto reciprocate the operating plunger 92. The detent balls 160, 162 ridesmoothly in and out of the pairs of opposed recesses. The single spring158 biasing the two balls equally ensures smoothness of action in andout of the recesses without binding. Moreover, the equal pressure on thetwo detent balls tends to center the shaft 152 within the base as theshaft rotates between detented positions, under the rolling action ofthe balls.

Details of construction and operation of the contact block 12 aredisclosed and claimed in the copending application of Pusch et al.,assigned to the same assignee as that of this application, Push ButtonSwitch Structure, Serial No. 77,576, filed December 22, 1960, now PatentNo. 3,118,026.

The above described switch construction is effective and reliable inoperation as well as small in size. The actuator units areinterchangeable for use with a contact block, except that an appropriatecam is required for the desired operation.

Various modifications of the foregoing features of this invention may bemade, and it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limitedto the specific form that is described.

What is claimed is:

l. A rotatable switch actuator comprising a hollow base, a shaftrotatably mounted in said base and having means for actuating a switchoperator, a coil spring wrapped around said shaft, and a pair ofrotatable rings surrounding said shaft and having hooks respectivelysecured to opposite ends of said spring, said hooks being spacedangularly about the axis of said shaft relative to each other when theshaft is in a neutral position, each ring having also a radiallyextending finger spaced angularly about the shaft axis with respect toits associated hook, said fingers also being spaced angularly about theshaft axis with respect to each other when the shaft is in said neutralposition, said base having a rib extending into the space between saidfingers to prevent rotation of said rings simultaneously in the samedirection, said shaft having axially extending tongues respectivelyengaging shoulders of said fingers, one of said rings being rotated inone direction by engagement of its finger shoulder with one of saidtongues in response to rotation of said shaft in said one direction awayfrom said neutral position to stretch said spring from one end thereofwhile the other ring is held against rotation by said rib, and saidother ring being rotated in the opposite direction by engagement of itsfinger shoulder with the other tongue in response to rotation of saidshaft in the opposite direction away from said neutral position tostretch said spring from its other end while said one ring is heldagainst rotation by said rib.

2. A rotatable switch actuator comprising a hollow base, a shaftrotatably mounted in said base, a cam on one end of said shaft foractuating a switch operator, a manually operable turn button detachablycoupled to the other end of said shaft by an axial stub and socketcoupling, a coil spring surrounding said shaft between said coupling andsaid cam, a pair of rotatable rings surrounding said shaft between saidcam and said coupling, each of said rings having a hook with the hooksbeing respectively secured to opposite ends of said spring and beingspaced angularly with respect to each other about the axis of said shaftwhen the shaft is in a neutral position, each of said rings having aradially extending finger with the fingers spaced angularly about theshaft axis relative to the associated hooks and also relative to eachother when the shaft is in a neutral position, said base having a ribextending into the space between said fingers to prevent rotation ofsaid rings simultaneously in the same direction, said shaft and said camhaving axially extending tongues respectively engaging shoulders of saidfingers, one of said rings being rotated in one direction by engagementof its finger shoulder with the tongue on the shaft in response torotation of the shaft in one direction away from said neutral positionto stretch the spring from one end thereof while the other ring is heldagainst rotation by said rib, the other ring being rotated in theopposite direction by engagement of its finger shoulder with the tongueon said cam in response to rotation of the shaft in the oppositedirection away from said neutral position to stretch the spring from theother end thereof while said one ring is held against rotation by saidrib.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,615,851 Roth Feb. 1, 1927 1,735,897 Edgar et al Nov. 19, 19292,631,212 Lindsay et al. Mar. 10, 1953 2,642,502 Johnson June 16, 19532,656,178 Hughes Oct. 20, 1953 2,670,824 Banker Mar. 2, 1954 2,704,466Way Mar. 22, 1955 2,748,208 Koertge May 29, 1956 2,748,210 Frank May 29,1956 2,762,876 Glogan et al. Sept. 11, 1956 2,896,992 Check July 28,1959

1. A ROTATABLE SWITCH ACTUATOR COMPRISING A HOLLOW BASE, A SHAFTROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BASE AND HAVING MEANS FOR ACTUATING A SWITCHOPERATOR, A COIL SPRING WRAPPED AROUND SAID SHAFT, AND A PAIR OFROTATABLE RINGS SURROUNDING SAID SHAFT AND HAVING HOOKS RESPECTIVELYSECURED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SPRING, SAID HOOKS BEING SPACEDANGULARLY ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID SHAFT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER WHEN THESHAFT IS IN A NEUTRAL POSITION, EACH RING HAVING ALSO A RADIALLYEXTENDING FINGER SPACED ANGULARLY ABOUT THE SHAFT AXIS WITH RESPECT TOITS ASSOCIATED HOOK, SAID FINGERS ALSO BEING SPACED ANGULARLY ABOUT THESHAFT AXIS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER WHEN THE SHAFT IS IN SAID NEUTRALPOSITION, SAID BASE HAVING A RIB EXTENDING INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN SAIDFINGERS TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID RINGS SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE SAMEDIRECTION, SAID SHAFT HAVING AXIALLY EXTENDING TONGUES RESPECTIVELYENGAGING SHOULDERS OF SAID FINGERS, ONE OF SAID RINGS BEING ROTATED INONE DIRECTION BY ENGAGEMENT OF ITS FINGER SHOULDER WITH ONE OF SAIDTONGUES IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION AWAYFROM SAID NEUTRAL POSITION TO STRETCH SAID SPRING FROM ONE END THEREOFWHILE THE OTHER RING IS HELD AGAINST ROTATION BY SAID RIB, AND SAIDOTHER RING BEING ROTATED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BY ENGAGEMENT OF ITSFINGER SHOULDER WITH THE OTHER TONGUE IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAIDSHAFT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID NEUTRAL POSITION TOSTRETCH SAID SPRING FROM ITS OTHER END WHILE SAID ONE RING IS HELDAGAINST ROTATION BY SAID RIB.